Whether you want to be able to listen to your favorite songs while you float in the pool, to rock out while you work outside in the yard or to liven up your summer barbecues with great tunes, you need the right outdoor speaker system setup if you want to be able to enjoy music to the fullest. Outdoor sound system planning poses special challenges, as outside you don’t have the benefits of walls to reflect sound. Plus, there are birds, crickets, dogs, wind, cars and neighbors making noise that can drown out your sound.
Fortunately, you can set up a great outdoor sound system with the right strategy. Follow these tips to get the job done:

1. Decide Where You Want to Focus the Sound. You’ll want to choose a center for your sound system. It could be your patio, your hot tub, a backyard gazebo, your pool area or anyplace else you desire.

2. Make a Triangle of Sound. To determine the best position for your speakers, imagine a triangle with your focus area as one point. Each speaker should be diagonally 12 feet away from your focal point and 8 to 10 feet apart from each other in a vertical line, forming the three sides of your triangle.

3. Adjust for Larger Areas. If you want to include sound coverage for more than one area, section the areas into distinct zones, each of which will be equipped with two speakers. Use the same technique described in Step 2 to determine the proper positioning of your speakers for each zone. By setting up separate speakers in each part of your yard, you can avoid having to turn up the sound and making conditions uncomfortably loud in any one area.

4. Determine the Protection of the Area. Some outdoor speakers are water-resistant, meaning that they can withstand some splashing but shouldn’t be exposed directly to the elements. Others are completely waterproof and can stand up to all types of weather. You’ll need to decide which type is best for each point where you will be placing speakers.

5. Consider the Aesthetic Appeal. You don’t want your speakers to distract from your yard, so it’s important to consider the appearance of the area. Disguised speakers like weatherproof outdoor rock speakers are a versatile choice for any area in the yard because they blend in naturally with the surroundings and don’t need any protection from the elements.

6. Get the Components. While you can purchase wireless outdoor speakers, the best sound quality comes from wired setups, so it’s better to opt for the traditional variety when you’re creating a permanent outdoor setup. The basic components needed for setup include your outdoor speakers, an amplifier or a home theater receiver, CL2 or CL3 outdoor weatherproof speaker wiring. You may also want to add outdoor volume controls.

Midwest Security Supplies can help you get many of the components needed to create the perfect outdoor speaker system. Shop our collection of outdoor speakers now, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help making your selections.